Shame Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Shame
Year: 1968
Director: Ingmar Bergman
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish 

Critics, cinephiles and even casual film-goers will agree that Ingmar Bergman is definitely one of the most prolific Directors of all time. His films have the power to shock, bring you to ecstatic joy and even bring you to tears. I have personally reviewed his Persona, Cries and Whispers, The Seventh Seal, Fanny and Alexander, Wild Strawberries, The Virgin Spring, and Summer Interlude so far, but I am just getting warmed up. I first saw Shame a few years ago and it has been on my mind ever since.

Shame is about two musicians who retreat to a rural island to farm during civil war. They love each other, but there are problems: the war upsets Jan (Max Von Sydow), he is weepy, too sensitive; Eva (Liv Ullman) wants children, he does not. The war suddenly arrives: rebels attack, neighbors die. When the other side restores order, Jan and Eva are arrested as collaborators. They are released, but soon the rebels return and Jan becomes murderous. They decide to flee.

This film is a bit different from every other Bergman film. It is not different due to characters, set pieces nor even cinematography. It is different because the conflict that drives the plot originates from an outside source. Most of Bergman's conflicts are created by his characters' struggle with inner demons or existential anxiety (The Seventh Seal, Persona, Cries and Whispers, Wild Strawberries) The conflict is provided by bombs, which force the characters to cope with their new life.

Bergman originally wanted to call this film The War, but eventually decided on Shame while he was writing the script. Why Shame? Perhaps this film is not about the shame of individual characters, but the shame of God. Perhaps if God were to look down at Earth and see all the misery, bloodshed, and the horrible circumstances innocent people like Jan and Eva are put through then perhaps he would feel great Shame. Though if that's the case then Bergman doesn't make the point clear enough, however it is widely known that Bergman was dissatisfied with this film, so he may have known he didn't make the point clear enough

In conclusion, the cinematography in this film is quite exquisite, brilliantly showing scarred landscaped, buring trees and powerful close-ups. It's a grim and haunting film, a likely realistic film for anybody who has had their town turned into a warzone. Even though Bergman wasn't impressed with this film it is still very well made. Shame is an emotionally gripping character study that's well worth a few views. 3.5/5